Chosen People Problems
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- 20. Okt. 2026
Über den Podcast
Yael Bar tur, secular sinner, and Chaya Leah Sufrin, pious Haredi, ask each other the hard questions, from Torah to Tinder askajew.substack.com
Folgen 229
What the Heck is Going on with Israeli Elections - with Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal
You think American politics are complicated? Israeli elections are so confusing, even the people explaining them aren’t sure anyone’s going to win. So we brought in two of Israel’s leading political …
Shownotes
You think American politics are complicated? Israeli elections are so confusing, even the people explaining them aren’t sure anyone’s going to win.
So we brought in two of Israel’s leading political journalists, Amit Segal and Nadav Eyal, both Call Me Back contributors, to help us make sense of the mess. We also found time to investigate Golda Meir’s love life and chat about ChayaLeah’s son’s wedding.
We get into:
Is Netanyahu actually losing—or is everyone about to lose their minds for nothing?
Could Israel really end up voting again just a few months later?
Should American Israelis get on a plane to vote in an election that might determine the country’s future? And what if they live in California and just want a tax break?
Is the fight over Haredi military service really about the army?
Could Netanyahu ditch his far-right allies, or are they in a political marriage that even he can’t escape?
Are Israelis paying enough attention to the country’s rapidly deteriorating relationship with the rest of the world?
And finally: was Golda Meir having an affair? We ask the important questions.
Plus, after our guests leave, we discuss France’s riots, the safety of French Jews, and why Yael thinks moving to Israel might be good for both the Jews and the real estate market.
Read Amit’s newsletter, The Scourge of Settler Violence and Its Discontents.
Read Nadav’s newsletter, The Israeli Election is About October 7, After All
___
Sign up to Ark+ to get access to exclusive episodes and ad-free listening to Chosen People Problems and every show in the Ark Media Network: Sign up at arkmedia.org/subscribe
Do you have something you want to ask us? Don’t worry, we won’t judge you. Submit your questions at: http://arkmedia.org/ask/cpp
____
More Ark Media:
Listen to: Call Me Back
Listen to: Ark News Daily
Listen to: For Heaven Sake
Listen to: Chosen People Problems
Sign up for our weekly Newsletter
Follow us on social: Facebook I Instagram I X I TikTok
Continue the conversation on THE FOLD, our private moderated community for Ark Media listeners. The Fold is where you can dig into all of the issues Jews around the world are facing. There you can ask questions, hear other takes, keep talking about it with people who care as much as you do. Learn more and join us at arkmedia.org/subscribeCredits: Beth Pearlman, Mindy Schaper, Ava Weiner, Andrej Todorovski, Martin Huergo, Karina Logiohio, and Ignacio Herbojo.
Michael Moynihan is our Oskar Schindler
You know the Righteous Among the Nations Michael Moynihan from the Fifth Column Podcast, The Free Press, Vice, Bill Maher, his show “The Moynihan Report”, but most importantly - he is a dear friend of the Jews …
Shownotes
You know the Righteous Among the Nations Michael Moynihan from the Fifth Column Podcast, The Free Press, Vice, Bill Maher, his show “The Moynihan Report”, but most importantly - he is a dear friend of the Jews and our emotional support guest. He is our favorite person to discuss the media landscape, the state of Europe, why having a podcast is better than being a father, and why he spends his days looking for antisemitic quotes in books from 100 years ago.
Also, we say something mean about John Cusack.
Also listen to Michael on:
The Moynihan Report. https://www.themoynihan.report/
The Fifth Column. https://www.wethefifth.com/
In this episode:
Michael Moynihan: emotional support guest and Amazon Prime detective
How the Fifth Column accidentally created an entire podcast community
Mamdani sucks more than you think.
Why does everyone suddenly have a PhD in Israel-Gaza?
What’s really behind the student strikes in France?
How conspiracy theories can fall apart
How podcasts filled an unexpected need
Saving people one insane internet rabbit hole at a time
___
Sign up to Ark+ to get access to exclusive episodes and ad-free listening to Chosen People Problems and every show in the Ark Media Network: Sign up at arkmedia.org/subscribe
Do you have something you want to ask us? Don’t worry, we won’t judge you. Submit your questions at: http://arkmedia.org/ask/cpp
____
More Ark Media:
Listen to: Call Me Back
Listen to: Ark News Daily
Listen to: For Heaven Sake
Listen to: Chosen People Problems
Sign up for our weekly Newsletter
Follow us on social: Facebook I Instagram I X I TikTok
Continue the conversation on THE FOLD, our private moderated community for Ark Media listeners. The Fold is where you can dig into all of the issues Jews around the world are facing. There you can ask questions, hear other takes, keep talking about it with people who care as much as you do. Learn more and join us at arkmedia.org/subscribeCredits: Beth Pearlman, Mindy Schaper, Ava Weiner, Andrej Todorovski, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, Karina Logiohio, Leonardo Erhardt, and Ignacio Herbojo
Ask Me Anything with Dan Senor, Yael Bar tur, and ChayaLeah Sufrin
Today we are joined by some guy named Dan Senor for a wide-ranging Ask Me Anything. We tackle questions about the state of Jewish education, why we should stop calling everyone an antisemite, how Fauda is …
Shownotes
Today we are joined by some guy named Dan Senor for a wide-ranging Ask Me Anything. We tackle questions about the state of Jewish education, why we should stop calling everyone an antisemite, how Fauda is shaping perceptions of Israel globally, and what the rise of the European right means for Israel and Jews abroad, beyond Eurovision votes.
In this episode:
What American Hebrew school gets wrong
Why anti-Zionism is resonating with young Americans
Will the language around “genocide” and anti-Zionism eventually change?
Why Fauda succeeds in telling Israeli stories better than non-fiction means
What the rise of the European right-wing means for Israel and European Jews
Dan lets Yael talk about Eurovision for longer than necessary
The unlikely allies Israel may need to turn to
Which American presidential candidates could effectively navigate Israeli issues
What the 2026 midterms might reveal about the Democratic Party’s direction
Read the article discussed in the episode.
https://www.thefp.com/p/douglas-murray-afd-election-far-right-immigration-merkelThis episode is free, but to access future Ask Me Anything episodes from Call Me Back as well as ad-free listening, sign up at arkmedia.org/subscribe.
___More Ark Media:
Listen to: Call Me Back
Listen to: Ark News Daily
Listen to: For Heaven Sake
Listen to: Chosen People Problems
Sign up for our weekly Newsletter
Follow us on social: Facebook I Instagram I X I TikTok
Continue the conversation on THE FOLD, our private moderated community for Ark Media listeners. The Fold is where you can dig into all of the issues Jews around the world are facing. There you can ask questions, hear other takes, keep talking about it with people who care as much as you do. Learn more and join us at arkmedia.org/subscribeCredits: Ilan Benatar, Devan Schwartz, Mindy Schaper, Ava Weiner, Andrej Todorovski, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, Karina Logiohio, Leonardo Erhardt, Ignacio Herbojo, and Yuval Semo
Group Chat: Are the Ninja Turtles Zionists? And more…
What happens when two very different Jews answer your most personal, random, and serious questions? We open up our chat for a mostly fun, sometime serious conversation about how we became friends and podcast …
Shownotes
What happens when two very different Jews answer your most personal, random, and serious questions?
We open up our chat for a mostly fun, sometime serious conversation about how we became friends and podcast partners, how an Orthodox matchmaker really works, what both of us got wrong about Judaism, and how we approach commemorating October 7th. We also weigh in on the very important issue of who’s our favorite from Beverly Hills 90210 and the Ninja Turtles.
In this episode:
How we went from a COVID-era Zoom to hosting a podcast together
The unlikely friendship between a secular Israeli-New Yorker and a California Orthodox Jewish educator
How does matchmaking actually work in the Chabad community?
Why ChayaLeah’s grandfather’s old-school matchmaking system still inspires her
Remembering October 7th: finding personal and communal ways to mourn
Showing up for Jewish community even when group mourning isn’t your thing
From the splitting of the Red Sea to manna from Heaven - what can you believe?
This episode is normally available only to Ark+ subscribers. For our first week, we are giving you a taste of what you will get as a subscriber.
𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝘁𝘁𝗽𝘀://𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮.𝗼𝗿𝗴/𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲.
____
More Ark Media:Listen to: Call Me Back
Listen to: Ark News Daily
Listen to: For Heaven Sake
Listen to: Chosen People Problems
Sign up for our weekly Newsletter
Follow us on social: Facebook I Instagram I X I TikTok
Continue the conversation on THE FOLD, our private moderated community for Ark Media listeners. The Fold is where you can dig into all of the issues Jews around the world are facing. There you can ask questions, hear other takes, keep talking about it with people who care as much as you do. Learn more and join us at arkmedia.org/subscribeCredits: Beth Pearlman, Mindy Schaper, Ava Weiner, Andrej Todorovski, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, Karina Logiohio, Leonardo Erhardt, and Ignacio Herbojo
Don’t Rely on the Houthis to Cure Cancer - with Douglas Murray
Which is more important for Israel–winning the war or the PR battle? The one and only Douglas Murray is with us today, to talk Israel, poetry, and…true crime? We start off by accidentally insulting him, but …
Shownotes
Which is more important for Israel–winning the war or the PR battle?
The one and only Douglas Murray is with us today, to talk Israel, poetry, and…true crime? We start off by accidentally insulting him, but don’t worry, he still likes Jews!
Also:
Why do Israelis sound like that?
Douglas refuses to tell us who the stupidest person on the internet is
Is Israel winning?
Why does the media suck
Free Palestine means more bike lanes
Douglas will not tolerate any slander of British food
The point of poetry
Guilty pleasures
Don’t rely on the Houthis for cancer research
No Douglas, playing the piano does not count as procrastination
How does aging even happen?
And more….
___
This episode is sponsored by Tikvah's Millstone Scholars Program, a selective national honors program where seventh- and eighth-graders study Jewish civilization, Israel, and America through primary sources and debate. Classes begin the week of October 18. Apply now at tikvah.org/ark.
___
Sign up to Ark+ to get access to exclusive episodes and ad-free listening to Chosen People Problems and every show in the Ark Media Network: Sign up at arkmedia.org/subscribe
Do you have something you want to ask us? Don’t worry, we won’t judge you. Submit your questions at: http://arkmedia.org/ask/cpp
____
More Ark Media:
Listen to: Call Me Back
Listen to: Ark News Daily
Listen to: For Heaven Sake
Listen to: Chosen People Problems
Sign up for our weekly Newsletter
Follow us on social: Facebook I Instagram I X I TikTok
Continue the conversation on THE FOLD, our private moderated community for Ark Media listeners. The Fold is where you can dig into all of the issues Jews around the world are facing. There you can ask questions, hear other takes, keep talking about it with people who care as much as you do. Learn more and join us at arkmedia.org/subscribeCredits: Beth Pearlman, Mindy Schaper, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, Karina Logiohio, Ignacio Herbojo
Ark Media is Our Daddy
Guys, we have big news. Really big. Like, Dan Senor Big. We are thrilled to announce we are joining Ark Media! Yes, Dan Senor bought us (actually, his company), and we now belong to him. Don’t worry, though; he …
Shownotes
Guys, we have big news. Really big. Like, Dan Senor Big.
We are thrilled to announce we are joining Ark Media! Yes, Dan Senor bought us (actually, his company), and we now belong to him. Don’t worry, though; he hasn’t spent as much time with us as you have, so he doesn’t quite know what he’s in for.
AND we have a new name! Please welcome: Chosen People Problems! You’ll get used to it. It’s really fun to say. Other than that, it’s still us, still for free, but just a whole lot more of us, more guests, and so far they are letting us do whatever we want around here (we’ve only made, like, one producer cry, and turned one sound editor antisemitic).
We want to thank you, our amazing listeners, who turned us from an entirely organic little baby to the media empire we are now (or will be soon). We don’t know a ton about business, but I think they wouldn’t buy us if we didn’t have listeners - so thank you!!
And thanks to the amazing people who loved us and took a chance on us so early on, and to Gabi and Mickey, our Ask A Jew team, who did more for us than we can acknowledge (though we try).
If you are a Substack subscriber at Askajew.substack.com, you'll get an email soon about your subscription, and if you are a paid subscriber, you’re actually going to get some extra perks now, finally! (Hint: subscribers will get a full extra Chosen People Problems show a week later). So keep your eyes and inboxes open for that!We are so excited for this journey, and see you at Ark!
Questions for us? Submit them at: https://tinyurl.com/askajew
Are we fat because of the Holocaust? And other questions for an evolutionary psychologist - with Rob Kurzban
Who knew that you could blame evolutionary biology for doom scrolling, binging on donuts or getting seasick? In this episode, we talk to Dr. Rob Kurzban, an evolutionary psychologist, about how human feelings …
Shownotes
Who knew that you could blame evolutionary biology for doom scrolling, binging on donuts or getting seasick? In this episode, we talk to Dr. Rob Kurzban, an evolutionary psychologist, about how human feelings and behaviors are shaped by evolution. He explains the adaptive functions of emotions, the role of boredom, and how our minds respond to environmental cues, providing insights into human nature and morality.
Also:
Evolution doesn’t care about your feelings
Do animals get bored?
Scrolling through Instagram has some evolutionary purpose
Wait, is evolution real??
The temptation of non-kosher donuts
Why some people are into spanking
Oh and lots about peeing and puking
Remember, you can watch this episode on Youtube!
Definitely buy (and read) All the Feels: The Evolved Function of Every Human Emotion and Sensation so you can impress your friends with all these fun facts.
Do you have something you want to ask us? Don’t worry, we won’t judge you. Submit your questions HERE
—-
This episode is sponsored by Tikvah's Millstone Scholars Program, a selective national honors program where seventh- and eighth-graders study Jewish civilization, Israel, and America through primary sources and debate. Classes begin the week of October 18. Apply now at tikvah.org/ark.
Jews Have Terrible Marketing, but an Amazing Brand
This week, we’re joined by the one and only Dara Horn to discuss her new book, The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Story for the Living. It’s an incredible book that will make you both angry and …
Shownotes
This week, we’re joined by the one and only Dara Horn to discuss her new book, The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Story for the Living. It’s an incredible book that will make you both angry and proud, which is kind of on brand for us right now.
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9gykZ22yuIY
We get into why antisemitism is not just a prejudice but a lie (and it can’t be solved by “empathy”); why Holocaust education kinda sucks sometimes, and why the most interesting question in Jewish history is not why they tried to kill us, but why we are still here.
Check out Dara’s Tell Institute (coming soon to a school near you?)
Have questions for us? Submit here: Tinyurl.com/askajew
Is the Constitution Still a Thing?? With Ilya Shapiro
Ilya Shapiro is a senior fellow and director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute and briefly, but not insignificantly, the executive director of the Georgetown Center for the Constitution …
Shownotes
Ilya Shapiro is a senior fellow and director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute and briefly, but not insignificantly, the executive director of the Georgetown Center for the Constitution.
Naturally, we bring him in to talk about Legally Blonde, which Baldwin Brother is the hottest (clearly Billy), and fine, the commerce clause.
Follow Ilya’s work on his Substack Shapiro’s Gavel, but his book Lawless: The Miseducation of America’s Elites – An Insider's Account of Institutional Weakness and the Transformation of Law Schools, and of course check him out on X, where it all began…
Also:Ilya identifies as “Trans-Sephardic”
What kind of russian doesn't like pickles??
Ilyan really wants to talk about the commerce clause - but we want to talk about mayonnaise.
The Federalist Papers are the Talmud of the constitution
Shapiro V Georgetown
Never tweet and then go to bed
How badass is it to publish your resignation letter in the Wall Street Journal?
Yael gets quizzed for her citizenship test
Unfortunately we ran out of time to talk about the commerce clause, but we did have time to hear why Alec Baldwin flipped Ilya the double bird.
Questions for us? Submit them at: https://tinyurl.com/askajew
How Not to Screw Up the New Year
Dear Jews and regular people, Rosh Hashana is upon us, which means it’s time to reflect on the past year, take a hard look at our behavior, ask forgiveness from the people we’ve wronged, and then immediately …
Shownotes
Dear Jews and regular people,
Rosh Hashana is upon us, which means it’s time to reflect on the past year, take a hard look at our behavior, ask forgiveness from the people we’ve wronged, and then immediately start judging everyone again.
What a year it has been.
Actually, we take that back. We’re tired of saying “what a year it has been.” Every year is apparently going to be A YEAR now. We would like one boring Jewish year, please. Nothing historic. Nothing unprecedented. Nothing that requires a statement from a Jewish organization. Just apples, honey, some light antisemitism we can complain about, and everyone home by 10.
Is that really too much to ask?
This week on Ask a Jew, we’re getting ready for the new year with someone very special: ChayaLeah’s dad, Rabbi Abba Perelmuter.
We brought him on partly because he is a rabbi with decades of wisdom and an incredible ability to make big Jewish ideas feel relevant and human.
But Yael really wanted him on because she was hoping he would tell an embarrassing story about ChayaLeah.
He could not remember one.
Honestly, devastating.
* Why Sukkot is the tragically under-marketed holiday of the Jewish calendar and deserves a rebrand.
* What to do on Rosh Hashanah if you’re Jewish but haven’t been inside a synagogue since your cousin’s bar mitzvah.
* Why community matters even if you don’t know the prayers, don’t know what you’re doing, and don’t plan on staying for three hours. Just show up.
* ChayaLeah’s annual rant: STOP WAITING TO BE INVITED. Invite someone yourself. You don’t need a gorgeous table or a five-course dinner. There are lonely people waiting for someone to remember them.
* Why parents whose college kids suddenly come home with radically different views should educate themselves before starting the argument.
* Whether we give antisemites and anti-Israel celebrities way too much of our attention.
* Macklemore, Mark Ruffalo, Mandy Patinkin, Ed Sheeran, Brad Pitt, Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson, Nirvana and, somehow, the Miami Boys Choir.
* Why America knows what celebrities and quarterbacks think but can’t name four philosophers. Seems healthy.
* Whether Ask a Jew could be the Beatles of podcasting. (The answer appears to be no, but Vegas is still on the table.)
* And finally, what ChayaLeah was actually like as a child: opinionated, challenging her teachers, befriending older kids and apparently already preparing for a career in podcasting.
And maybe that’s what we love most about Rosh Hashana. Judaism gives us a reset button every year, while also being extremely clear that you are, unfortunately, still you.
Thank you to everyone who has listened this year… You’ve laughed with us, argued with us, corrected us, defended us, gotten mad at us, and told us you were yelling responses to us while driving.
We love this weird little community we’ve built.
So for 5787, we wish all of you a year of health, laughter, good marriages, good friendships, good food, and group chats that never get screenshotted and sent to the wrong person.
Stay tuned for next year….. lots of great guests coming up including Brad Lander and Mandy Patankin.
Shana Tova U’Metuka.
See you in 5787.
Yael & ChayaLeah
Remembering to Never Forget
25 years ago, we told people to never forget September 11th, and how’s that going for us? On this special episode, we are happy to interview Larry Wein, a tribe member, former NYPD Homicide detective, and 9/11 …
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25 years ago, we told people to never forget September 11th, and how’s that going for us?
On this special episode, we are happy to interview Larry Wein, a tribe member, former NYPD Homicide detective, and 9/11 first responder. We heard what that day was like for Larry, as well as the six months that followed, which he spent at Ground Zero. Every. Single. Day.
We talk about the idiocy of conspiracy theories, mental and physical health for first responders, and a special trip he is planning to Israel for the Police Unity Tour, which brings American and Israeli cops together to cycle through the country.
But first - you are blessed with 25 minutes of us catching up on some, shall we say, lighter topics. We talk about Yael’s favorite new Instagram account of a random Texan dude who is fluent in Hebrew, why the Met Gala should have a holocaust themed night, and also play F/Marry/Kill with Zohran Mamdani, Brad Lander and John Galliano (it’s really easy when you think about it)
Have questions for us? Go to https://tinyurl.com/askajew to submit and maybe we will read them on air!
And don’t forget that you can watch this episode on YouTube!
A Deep Dive Into The War of 1812 - Just kidding, but CBS’s National Security Analyst Aaron MacLean is here
Aaron MacLean is host of the School of War podcast, a National Security Analyst at CBS, a columnist at the Free Press, a retired Marine captain, and now, a reluctant and delightful guest on Ask A Jew. We …
Shownotes
Aaron MacLean is host of the School of War podcast, a National Security Analyst at CBS, a columnist at the Free Press, a retired Marine captain, and now, a reluctant and delightful guest on Ask A Jew. We discuss Iran, China, growing up the son of a WW2 veteran, The War of the Spanish Succession (??), and, ew, are we turning into France??
Join the conversation on Substack: Askajew.substack.com
And check out this episode on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@AskAJew
Also:
Avoiding the Jihad elective at Oxford.
Boulder Colorado is a gateway drug to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Aaron learned Arabic only to be deployed to a non-Arabic-speaking country.
What’s your favorite war, Aaron?
Chaya Leah’s first word was Auschwitz.
Why is Harrison Ford still hot??
Not many people know what it’s like to have your freedom at stake?
Aaron’s forthcoming book: “Pro-Israel - Despite it all”.
Are we winning the war??
What happened to the Turks? They used to be cool.
What should we talk about next, China? Cancer?
Ew, are we turning into Europe??
Draft - yay or nay?
Questions? Submit them here: https://tinyurl.com/askajew
Zionism Is Punk Rock - with Warren Kinsella.
Warren Kinsella wears many hats: a lawyer hat, a punk-rock musician hat, an author hat - and our favorite - a pissed-off Canadian hat. We chat with him about his new book, The Hidden Hand: The Information War …
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Warren Kinsella wears many hats: a lawyer hat, a punk-rock musician hat, an author hat - and our favorite - a pissed-off Canadian hat. We chat with him about his new book, The Hidden Hand: The Information War and the Rise of Antisemitic Propaganda. After you have purchased the book, follow Warren on X as well.
Here is a piece he wrote about his research for The Free Press:
Our interview with Warren starts around minute 35, before that you can enjoy us catching up about Lindsay Clancy, how dare Bill Ackman donate a billion dollars to medical causes, the land mass currently known as Israel, and more.
Also -
Have a question for us? We have a form!
ICYMI, here we are in Wyoming with Nadav Eyal:
Thanks for reading Good for the Jews! This post is public so feel free to share it.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Cowboys and Coalitions - Live from Jackson Hole with Nadav Eyal!
We just wrapped up our first ever live show in Wyoming (naturally), and we had a blast!! Thank you so much to the Jackson Hole Jewish Community for hosting us, to the amazing listeners who traveled to be there …
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We just wrapped up our first ever live show in Wyoming (naturally), and we had a blast!! Thank you so much to the Jackson Hole Jewish Community for hosting us, to the amazing listeners who traveled to be there, and to our special guest Nadav Eyal, who you all know from Call Me Back, Yediot Achronot, and his substack Between Us. You can and should also follow him on X and Instagram.
Good for the Jews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
If you like, you can also watch this episode on YouTube, and check out more photos on our Instagram!
* We cover all this and more with Nadav:
* What the Heck is goin on in Israeli politics??
* What the polls are saying, and what can change it.
* People who hate Israel won’t change their mind if Bibi loses…but it will be easier
* Israel needs to get out of the news cycle
* Can the next Israeli government have Arab parties in its coalition?
* Diplomacy vs. Strength, The Rebbe vs. Nadav
* Iron wall, not Sparta
* The American mindset is the minority mindset - and we Israelis can learn from that.
* Mainstrea media is the worst form of media - except for all the others.
* Only follow journalists who can lose their jobs for telling the truth.
* Notes from the trenches of Columbia University.
* If it walks like a terrorist and talks like a terrorist, it’s a terrorist - even if it’s Jewish.
Again thank you to the amazing community of Jackson Hole for making this happen! Where should we have our next live show?
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
From Gaza to Killer Bees: Twenty Near-Death Lessons with John Spencer
John Spencer is a retired Army officer, Urban Warfare expert, Chair of War Studies at the Madison Policy Forum and Executive Director at the Urban Warfare Institute. He’s been in some funky situations …
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John Spencer is a retired Army officer, Urban Warfare expert, Chair of War Studies at the Madison Policy Forum and Executive Director at the Urban Warfare Institute. He’s been in some funky situations (including seven visits to Gaza), and encountered everything from terrorists to killer bees. He captures it all in his new book, Twenty Times I Almost Died: Life Lessons from the Edge of Survival. It’s a great book, funny and insightful, and you should absolutely buy it for yourself and the people in your life.
We talk about the badass bond between the IDF and the US Armed Forces, the privilege of being a pacifist, and why John might prefer his kids go to Columbia over the Naval Academy (shudder)
* Chaya Leah was also in the army… Hashem’s army
* The NY Times wants to know if John got his $7,000 from us.
* Pushing back against Jon Stewart
* No man steps into the same river twice
* John can’t decide what’s worse, sending his kids to Columbia, or the Naval Academy.
* Oh you don’t believe in war? How nice.
* We ask John about his life, he answers about subterranean warfare.
* A brief detour to Ukraine
* Can you teach resilience?
* Total victory? It’s possible.
* The bond between the US military and the IDF is pretty badass.
* Lies of omission are everywhere.
* Soft times create weak men.
* Children on flights are worse than some wars.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
1-800-Antisemitism
Hi Jews and Jew Lovers! It’s been an exhausting week running the world, but we still had some time to sit and catch up about Spain, Morocco, water guns and the kingdom of Cerritos Auto Square (mentioning them …
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Hi Jews and Jew Lovers!
It’s been an exhausting week running the world, but we still had some time to sit and catch up about Spain, Morocco, water guns and the kingdom of Cerritos Auto Square (mentioning them in case they want to sponsor the podcast.)
Have a question?? [email protected]
Also:
* J-Pop is the new K-Pop.
* If Chaya Leah’s hair looks good but nobody can see it, does it still look good?
* Can you use a water gun on Shabbat?
* Stop calling everyone an antisemite, some people are just stupid.
* Tell us if you experienced an antisemitism and we’ll tell you if you really did (that number again is [email protected])
* Our apperance on the Josh Szeps show! Want to listen? How about a 7-day free trial to his channel?? Click here.
* Albanians are cool, except that one guy who didn’t let my friends in his restaurant.
* Anyone in London?? Hit us up.
* You can now watch Mark Dubowitz of the FDD talk about whether the Iranian leadership is hot on YouTube.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
The Foundation Against Deadly Dumbasses - with Mark Dubowitz
Mark Dubowitz is the chief executive of The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), and our new reluctant friend. We sit him down to talk about Iran, Saudi Arabia, why the IRGC wants Ted Kaczynski to kill …
Shownotes
Mark Dubowitz is the chief executive of The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), and our new reluctant friend. We sit him down to talk about Iran, Saudi Arabia, why the IRGC wants Ted Kaczynski to kill him, why we can’t just send Bruce Willis (in Armageddon) to drill into Pickaxe mountain, and who the bad guys would want winning the Israeli election…
Follow Mark on X, but not too closely like the Iranian government.
Who’s joining us in Wyoming for our first ever live show?? Nadav Eyal will be there, will you? August 10th, there are only 37 tickets left!!
Also in this episode:
* Why didn’t Iran pick a good photo of Mark to present at Khamenei’s funeral?
* Make democracy cool again.
* Mark never met a self-hating Jew until he came to America.
* How to deal with your anti Zionist kids? Tell them they’re idiots.
* The Iranians won’t miss an opportunity to kiss an opportunity.
* Mark realizes we want to talk about whether or not Ahmedinejad is attractive… and he has some thoughts.
* What do you say to Americans who ask why are we in this war with Iran?
* Trump was talking about Kharg island before it was cool.
* The US Israel military alliance is something to behold.
* Is Trump forcing Saudi Arabia to hang out with us?
* Who do the Iranians want leading Israel?
* Israeli politics - this coalition must be defeated.
* The Israeli expression that shouldn’t be used in English.
* We need to talk about the Mexican president.
* Magic Pickaxe mountain.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Kooksmaxxing
Ask A Jew is going to Wyoming!! We’ll be hosting a live show Monday, August 10th in Jackson Hole, how cool would it be if you join us there? If not for us, do it for Nadav Eyal, who will be our special guest …
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Ask A Jew is going to Wyoming!! We’ll be hosting a live show Monday, August 10th in Jackson Hole, how cool would it be if you join us there? If not for us, do it for Nadav Eyal, who will be our special guest, and who we didn’t add to the above AI image because he may (rightfully) sue us.
Any questions? Email us at [email protected]
Thanks for reading Good for the Jews! This post is public so feel free to share it.
This week, we discuss Clavicular and Ro Khanna’s great adventures, why the Haredi issue will probably determine Israel’s next elections, and how adorable it is that everyone’s obsessed with us.
Oh look, i’m angry in the NY Post again! Please read and fume with me. This time I write about how a brave Israeli hostage practically had to ambush the UN lady in charge of violence against women to finally agree to hear about her sexual assault at the hands of Hamas. However bad you think the UN is - it’s worse.
Now, here is a photo from my Israel trip, the dead sea to be exact. Fun fact - this animal is called a Yael. And yes, it wento to Harvard.
Finally, last night I had dinner with not one but TWO former AAJ guests! Can you guess who they are? Hint: neither are Israeli.
Drop the answer in the comments. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Good for the Jews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
The People's Republic of NYC - With Rafael Mangual
Rafael Mangual is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute Institute, a contributing editor of City Journal, and authour of the book Criminal (In)Justice: What the Push for Decarceration and Depolicing Gets …
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Rafael Mangual is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute Institute, a contributing editor of City Journal, and authour of the book Criminal (In)Justice: What the Push for Decarceration and Depolicing Gets Wrong and Who It Hurts Most.
He joins us to explain what the HECK is going on with the DSA in New York, what it was like to grow up as a Dominican-Puerto Rican New Yorker with a cop for a father, what BLM and the Defund the Police movement got wrong, and what’s in store for all of us in Mamdani’s New York.
Follow Rafael on X, and don’t forget to check out the episode on YouTube as well!
Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!! You rock. Here are a few things we love about you, in no particular order. What are we missing?
* Amazon Prime
* Sam Harris
* Air Conditioning
* Peanut Butter
* Movie Theatre soda
* Yellowstone National Park (actually, all national parks)
* The Blue Angels
* Turning right on red
* Halloween
* Women that call you “Hon”
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Adam Got Around a Bit Before Eve
Ben Kawaller is a writer and journalist who you may know from his video series “Ben Meets America” in the Free Press, and from the Reflector podcast series “Strange Bedfellows” about how the LGBT movement went …
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Ben Kawaller is a writer and journalist who you may know from his video series “Ben Meets America” in the Free Press, and from the Reflector podcast series “Strange Bedfellows” about how the LGBT movement went slightly off the rails.
We discuss coming out as a writer late in life, going to Korea for illegal spa treatments that include salmon sperm injections to the face, and whether Adam (the one from Adam & Eve) was into some kinky animal stuff… HAPPY PRIDE!
Interview starts around minute 40.
BUT FIRST!
40 minutes of catching up from your favorite Jews: Chaya Leah had a big party, Yael had a big crash. We celebrate both. Also we crown a winner fo the Challah giveaway, so listen carefully as you may be the lucky recepient.
Mazal tov the Chaya Leah’s son and his soon-to-be wonderful bride!! Thank you to her parents who listened to a few episodes and still allowed her to marry into this family.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Israel on Trial — with Judge Roy K. Altman
In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the judges who rule on justice, and the clueless podcasters who interrogate them. Thanks for reading Good …
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In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the judges who rule on justice, and the clueless podcasters who interrogate them.
Thanks for reading Good for the Jews! This post is public so feel free to share it.
Today we are honored to welcome Judge Roy K. Altman, a United States Judge for the Southern District of Florida, and author of the new book: “Israel on Trial: Examining the History, the Evidence, and the Law”, a #1 Bestseller in Foreign & International Law. We talk about what it’s like to defend Israel in the court of public opinion, the drama of federal judge email chains, how the IDF is run by a bunch of Jewish lawyers, and what happens when you call the Mahjong hotline.
Watch this episode on YouTube:
Good for the Jews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Also:
* Objection: this judge is way too young.
* An American-Israeli-Romanian-Venezuelan-Mexican-Polish judge naturalizes new citizens.
* The verdict: turns out some people are crazy.
* Wait, what is a judge and can we become one?
* The Mahjong hotline is the ultimate arbiter of justice.
* Do NOT Reply All to a federal judge email chain.
* Who needs to go to Disneyland when you can visit a civil war battlefield?
* How did we get here after 1,200 people were butchered?
* The good news: most of what the haters believe is wrong, and we have evidence.
* An army of international legal scholars are running this war in real time.
* The Jews have been asleep at the wheel.
* There’s a Jewish federal judge in Arkansas??
* Americans believe in a society that follows the rules.
* Falafel Night on campus ain’t gonna cut it.
* It’s the US, Israel and Ukraine against the world.
* What can you do? Bring people to Israel to see for themselves.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Dan Senor Sends Us to Voicemail
It’s 9:04 in New York and we finally reached boss level. Today’s guest is Dan Senor of the “Call Me Back” podcast, bestselling co-author of “Start-Up Nation” and “The Genius of Israel”, and all-around great …
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It’s 9:04 in New York and we finally reached boss level. Today’s guest is Dan Senor of the “Call Me Back” podcast, bestselling co-author of “Start-Up Nation” and “The Genius of Israel”, and all-around great guy.
We chain him to the chair for a good 90 minutes for our version of a serious interview, which included the Halachic case for rooting for the New York Knicks, who despises Brad Lander more, Dan or Yael (close call), why people who hate Israel usually also hate America, what Dan’s favorite conspiracy theory is, and what’s the one question Dan’s wife never wants to hear, ever again.
If you enjoyed this episode please consider rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and leaving a comment. It really helps us grow! And watch this episode on Youtube as well later today!
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Jews Are Not a Minority Group - With Batya Ungar-Sargon
Batya (!) Ungar-Sargon needs no introduction, but if you insist: she’s the host of of “Batya!” on News Nation (Saturday at 7PM & Sunday at 11AM EST), host of the YouTube show “Prove It! With Batya”, and author …
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Batya (!) Ungar-Sargon needs no introduction, but if you insist: she’s the host of of “Batya!” on News Nation (Saturday at 7PM & Sunday at 11AM EST), host of the YouTube show “Prove It! With Batya”, and author of the brand new book, The Jews and the Left, which comes out tomorrow, is already a bestseller, and you should buy it immediately!
Are you coming to happy hour tonight?? Or are you an antisemite? Why not both??
Monday, June 1st
6pm
Spring Street Lounge
48 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
Chaya Leah, Yael, some special guests, and this just in - SWAG! See you there.
Here’s what we cover with Batya:
* Hot gossip about Leo frank
* No bagel and lox parade
* What kind of Jews should we blame for antisemitism?
* Brad Lander, and the case of the “I got nothing else going for me” politician.
* The right wing hates Israel just because of foreign aid?
* Is Batya still a leftie? Yes, and so is Trump.
* I’m still a Democrat, I just don’t vote for them anymore.
* Batya is looking out for Trump.
* Psychoanalyzing JD Vance.
* Americans are hungry, for actual food.
* Turn off your damn phone.
* Get us more Jews over here!
* Is fighting antisemitism worth our time?
* Jews are getting the white treatment…and that’s ok?
* Meeting Jew-lovers at Trader Joe’s.
* Antisemitism is not a big deal.
* Jews are not a minority group.
* Do your feelings get hurt?
* We need Jewish Balls, not Jewish Joy.
* The Jews need to take back improv!
* Graham Platner better not misgender someone!
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
A Nice Jewish Love Story with Jean Meltzer
Are you in or around New York City?? Mark your calendars for Monday, June 1st at 6pm!! Come have a drink with ChayaLeah and Yael! Spring Lounge 48 Spring St, New York, NY 10012 Comment if you plan to attend! …
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Are you in or around New York City??
Mark your calendars for Monday, June 1st at 6pm!! Come have a drink with ChayaLeah and Yael!
Spring Lounge
48 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
Comment if you plan to attend! Special guests may make an appearance…
Good for the Jews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Thank you so much to everyone who has already filled out the Ask a Jew survey! We are genuinely so grateful for the feedback and reading your comments, suggestions, and extremely passionate opinions has been the highlight of our week.
If you haven’t filled it out yet, PLEASE DO SO ASAP. The survey is super short, hugely helpful for us as we grow the podcast, and makes us feel important and data-driven.
Also: homemade baked goods from ChayaLeah are still on the line.
This week on Ask a Jew, we were thrilled to welcome bestselling author and Jewish rom-com queen Jean Meltzer to the podcast.
Jean is the author of The Matzah Ball, Mr. Perfect on Paper, and Kissing Kosher. We enjoyed a funny, heartfelt, and surprisingly deep conversation about Jewish identity, chronic illness, love stories, and the very specific chaos of writing unapologetically Jewish characters in modern publishing.
We talked about:
* How Jean accidentally became one of the biggest names in Jewish romance fiction
* Why Jewish representation in books matters (especially when the Jewish character isn’t just someone’s anxious accountant uncle)
* The rise of the Jewish rom-com industrial complex
* Chronic illness, vulnerability, and writing from real life
* What makes a “Jewish love story” feel distinctly Jewish
Jena is the Founder and CEO of Jewish Joy LLC and of the Jewish Joy Book Club.
Find more info at JeanMeltzer.com
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Jew-Washing
WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE! Hello - SURVEY. Fill out the SURVEY. Last one to fill out the SURVEY is an antisemite. Plus you have a chance to win Chaya Leah’s baked goods, made especially for you! If you …
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WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE!
Hello - SURVEY. Fill out the SURVEY. Last one to fill out the SURVEY is an antisemite. Plus you have a chance to win Chaya Leah’s baked goods, made especially for you! If you already filled it out, you are our favorite! If you are the listeners from Japan, Barbados, Scotland or Pakistan - email us! We want to get to know you (you can all email us actually. It is called Ask A Jew you know….).
Also, this just in - Mark your calendars for Monday, June 1st at 6pm!! Come have a drink with some other AJJers (Jew-pies?) and meet your two favorite Jewish podcasters (not Ezra Klein and Dan Senor) at:
Spring Lounge
48 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
Comment if you plan to attend! Special guests may make an appearance…
Now that logistics are out of the way - we gathered around the microphone last night to discuss Chaya Leah’s favorite holiday, Shavuout, and her two least favorite things in the world: antizionist Jews and Eurovision. We also have some TV and book recommendations for you, discuss Mayor Mamdani’s stupid party, and send some special love to Albania.
Turns out I was partially right about our Albanian brethren, I said they didn’t lose a single Jew during the holocaust, turns out they actually GAINED Jews. You should use this super fun fact to impress your Albanian doormen in New York, they are very proud of it (rightfully so), as well as their impeccable Eurovision voting history (doormen may not care about that). Shout out to my dad Ronnie for this information!
Some links:
* J-Street mamdani Substack, what do you think?
* Great book recommendation following our shipping recommendation - thank you to whoever suggested it!
* ICYMI - my Eurovision recap (you don’t need to enjoy or like or even know what Eurovision is to read)
* Some listeners suggested a book club, but we all know books are for nerds. How about we all pick a season of 90 Day Fiance and watch together?? Meisha and Nicola — a gorgeous American and painfully average Israeli united by their love of Jesus — agree! (Season 6)
See you in NYC June 1st!!
(Did we mention there is a survey?)
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Undocumented Love Making - With Gad Saad
Dr. Gad Saad is a scholar at the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom at the University of Mississippi, and all-around Mensch. As a Lebanese-Canadian-Jewish academic, let’s just …
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Dr. Gad Saad is a scholar at the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom at the University of Mississippi, and all-around Mensch. As a Lebanese-Canadian-Jewish academic, let’s just say he knows a thing or two about the culture wars, and the war wars.
We talk about his latest book “Suicidal Empathy: Dying to Be Kind”, how our minds have been infected by parisites, what happened when he made fun of Quebec French (linguistic genocide), and how exactly the IDF trains magical dogs to r*pe terrorists.
Follow Dr. Saad on X, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram (where he has a combined 2 million+ followers), you’re in for a fun ride!
Also this episode will soon be available on our Youtube!
Check out our channel and subscribe.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Your Personality Is Not a Disorder: Social Media, Girls and Gen Z, with Freya India
Today on Ask a Jew, we’re joined by writer Freya India, author of Girls: Generation Z and the Commodification of Everything, to talk about what growing up as a girl looks like in the age of Instagram, how we …
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Today on Ask a Jew, we’re joined by writer Freya India, author of Girls: Generation Z and the Commodification of Everything, to talk about what growing up as a girl looks like in the age of Instagram, how we are all carrying generational trauma from Eve, and why not everything in your life is a problem to be fixed. Turns out we’re all just 13-year-old girls! Now go buy the book.
Do you know you can watch this episode on YouTube? Well, you can!
We also get into why social media can feel like a “rumination machine” for anxious girls, how beauty culture and Facetune turn teenagers into products, and why every normal feeling is suddenly language‑ified into a “disorder,” a “trauma,” or a “healing journey.” We also talk about what boys are seeing online, the rise of “looksmaxxing,” and whether anyone knows how to have a normal relationship anymore. If you’re a parent, a millennial/Gen X woman looking at Gen Z with horror, or a Gen Z girl trying to make sense of your own feed, this one is for you.
Also:
* Will the allure beauty box change your life?
* We are all just 13 year old girls
* Social media escalaes every trend o the extreme
* Not everything needs to be solved
* Is therapy a scam?
* We’re all trying to gain control
* social media is a rumination machine
* Beware of therapy talk
* Feeling anxious? you’re probably normal
* The stories we tell ourselves
* We all have generational trauma from Eve
* You think you need therapy? Go live in Somalia!
* Freya is so pretty
* Is every personality trait is a problem?
* We don’t care about your healing journeys
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Uncomfortably Numb
Two episodes in one week? You lucky ducks! Maybe there’s even a third one coming…Only Hashem (and maybe producer Gabi) knows. BUT FIRST - are you following us on YouTube? Listen, I get if you’re an antisemite …
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Two episodes in one week? You lucky ducks! Maybe there’s even a third one coming…Only Hashem (and maybe producer Gabi) knows.
BUT FIRST - are you following us on YouTube? Listen, I get if you’re an antisemite and don’t want to show your cards. We won’t judge you. But if you care about the Jewish people, really the only thing left to do is subscribe, like and leave a comment!
We had some beginner’s luck with the delightful Sal Mercogliano (34,000 views?? Maybe we do control the media), and also uploaded some older ones, like fan favorite Michael C. Moynihan of The Fifth Column! BTW if you are a YouTube expert email us at [email protected] for all your tips, because our team (aka Yael) does not know what it’s doing. You can also email any questions, comments and concerns there.
Today’s episode is a blast from the past, aka last week. Not to make this a history lesson, but do you remember the shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner? How about the King Charles White House visit? Those were the days!
We also cover the terrible attack in London (sadly this could be true of any week), the etiquette of leaving voice notes, and how fun it is to colonize people’s minds. Enjoy.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Live with David Christopher Kaufman
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"If Iran can't export oil, they’re going to lose their wells" With Sal Mercogliano
Watch this episode on YouTube!! Yes, it's happening! Please susbcribe to our brand new channel. Are the Straits of Hormuz open or closed? Is "free shipping" actually real? How do you clear underwater mines? Do …
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Watch this episode on YouTube!! Yes, it's happening!
Please susbcribe to our brand new channel.
Are the Straits of Hormuz open or closed? Is "free shipping" actually real? How do you clear underwater mines? Do ships draw crude drawings on tracking maps? And why are Christmas sweaters designed in April?All that and more in our conversation with maritime historian, professor, and popular podcast host Dr. Sal Mercogliano, host of the hit show “What’s Going on With Shipping”. If you think his channel his niche, he only has 700,000 youtube subscribers.
Also:
* An Italian from Long Island? Practically a Jew.
* Breaking: Sal doesn’t like fish.
* What are merchant mariners?
* Every day is Monday on a ship.
* Getting seasick is a thing.
* What’s up with the Southern Ocean.
* The Titanic (movie) didn’t have to end that way.
* You realize your internet is connected with cables under the ocean, right?
* Beware of blockade crypto scams.
* Why blocking the strait of Hormuz is like blocking an artery
* If Iran can’t export oil, they’re going to lose their wells.
* Yes, Sal get’s recognized on cruise ships.
* You don’t need mines to scare everyone about mines.
And more….
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
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